Hugo Chávez's Death Brings Mourning, Uncertainty to Venezuela

Yesterday evening, hundreds of Venezuelans poured into the main square
in the capital city of Caracas to mourn the death of
President Hugo Chávez. Some of the citizens present even cried out
over the loss of their "father," but most gathered quietly to honor the
leader who dominated the country for 14 years before losing his
two-year battle with cancer (the exact nature of which wasn't disclosed) at the age of 58.

Officials have
decided that Vice President Nicolás Maduro will assume the presidency
for the 30 days leading up to the national election.
And he and the next president will confront what
Chávez, a
controversial figure on both the national and international stages,
has left behind: a bitterly divided
country in the midst of a political crisis. In response to palpable tension in the streets of
Venezuela, Maduro called on the people to be respectful and "unite more
than ever," just as the government branches and military had. Henrique
Capriles Radonski, a former presidential candidate
and opposition leader, mimicked these sentiments, saying that despite
the uncertain future of Chávez's socialist regime, this isn't
the time for fighting about differences. "It is the time for unity," he said. "It is the time
for peace."

For months prior to his death, Chávez wasn't
publicly seen.
He sought treatment
in Cuba for his illness, which prevented him from taking the
oath of office for his fourth
term in October. As of today, Venezuela is in a week-long,
government-declared state of mourning, and citizens are encouraged to visit Chávez's
body at a Caracas military academy,
where it will remain for the next three days.

A state funeral will take place on Friday, and left-wing leaders, as well as millions
of supporters from across the globe, are anticipated in Caracas.

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